Saturday, September 12, 2015

Day 1 : The Squirt Worlds

So today not only did I win gold. I
also won Diamond from my best friend Jez.

Wow
(photo by Dave Worltey)

The moment Jez popped the Big Question
(photo by Peter Holcombe)

If I was to describe my perfect
competition day I could not even have imagined a day as good as this
one.

A full squirt boating event in one day.
Banks lined with people cheering everyone on. Everyone their
specifically to watch the event. So many of my friends and family
there with me cheering me on.

The banks and rocks were lined with supporters
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)

The 2015 ICF Squirt Boats worlds took
place at Smoothie one of the best squirt boating spots in the world.
An epic downtime spot with a good eddy situated on the banks of a a
small island in the middle of the Ottawa river. Guarding the entrance
to McCoys rapid, the biggest of all the rapids on the main channel of
this famous whitewater river.

Everyone there had to get there by boat
yet the banks we're lined with people. Hundreds of spectators there
to cheer the athletes on. There was music, announcers, judges,
spectators, athletes everywhere you looked. All hidden amongst the
trees in the natural amphitheatre on this beautiful Island. The
atmosphere was immense.

Film crews, judges, spectators the atmosphere was immense
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)

The event kicked off early at 8am and
from the very beginning ICF and World records were smashed. By 10am
new Men and Womens ICF Mystery records had been set and by 4pm the
2015 ICF Squirt World Champions had been crowned with rides that I am
sure will not be beaten for a very long time.

It was amazing to watch as the sport of
squirt boating was truly showcased. The battle of the day not just
between the athletes but with the sport itself. Every athlete wanting
to blow away every standard ever set before. There were new moves,
new sequences and new bonuses. It was insane.

Everyone talking tactics on the bank
(photo by Dave Worltey)

The standard of everyone who competed
would have made previous world finals with the standard of the Top 10
in each class being high enough to have easily podium'd in the last
ICF event!

Competitors wait out there turn
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)

Matt Hamilton showing some serious skills
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)

In the mens Stephen Wright finally made
his ICF Squirt worlds debut and styled his way through to the win.
His prediction from the start that you would need a 20 second +
mystery to win was so true. The standard was so high that all the
podium rides needed to include a 20 – 30 second mystery move (Clay
Wright hitting a massive 31 second ride during his finals run) plus a
sequence of flat water routines involving not only the highest
scoring moves on the score sheet but those moves performed in a
special artistic way with bonuses that doubled or tripled their score
for an athlete to even have a chance.

Clay gets ready to take the drop
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)

Announcing the event with Corey Volt and Val
(photo by Lindsey Spicer)

Clay Wright, former World Champion from
the USA and 2015 Silver medallist, performed hand paddle tricky wu's
seemingly effortlessly ride after ride. Whilst Ben White, former
World Champion from Great Britain and 2015 Bronze medallist, nailed
clean screwing around sequences.

Ben White cleaning the screwing around sequence to take the bronze
(photo by Linsey Spicer)

But it was Stephen Wright who
managed to link the mystery with a massive flying fish exit move
(airscrew performed using the energy you get as you resurface from a
mystery move to give you the pop) followed by new moves such as
changing around sequences and clean tricky wu's. Toping the podium to
become the 2015 World Champion, smashing the former 1,300 point world
record in the process by breaking the 2,000+ point mark not once but
twice, to win the event.

Steve O celebrates as he is crowned World Champion
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)

In the ladies it was Hitomi, Jen Mc
Gauley and myself who really stood out. Hitomi opened up the event with a 19
second mystery move right of the mark to win the prelims round.
Waking up not only the athletes but also the crowd.

Hitomi takes her last breathe before getting a massive mystery move
(photo by Alex Edwards)

In the semis I
woke up a lot and seemingly blew the competition out of the park. Hitting a
1,850 point ride over 500 points more than my former personal best
and world record score and the highest score of the event at that
point. I hit a head under mystery, then immediately popped up,
paddled back in to the eddy and went into a super complex flatwater
routine. Making it up as I went I just felt the flow as I started
wracking off a ridiculous mix of crazy complicated tricks. Tricky
wu's with switch wheels, super clean split wheels linked together
with heli spins mid split, switch screwing around sequences, It just
flowed and I loved it. It felt great.

On hearing the score and knowing that
was it, the ride I wanted and had trained for, and that I was safely
into finals in 1st place.

Crusing up for the mystery
(photo by Dave Wortley)

I chatted to Den and switched to
hand paddles and goggles for my second run. Hitomi had opened up the
event by setting the new mystery ICF record and this was my chance to
challenge it. I had one thing on my mind and that was going deep.

Taking that last breathe
(photo by Lindsey Spicer)

I dropped in for the mystery as the
clock started for my second run and hit a 10 – 12 second mystery
not quite managing to get the deep drop. Knowing I could do better, I
resurfaced and cruised back up the eddy line again. Resetting my mind
and refilling my lungs I hit the seam in the perfect spot. I dropped
deep, spinning, cursing, working the eddy line. I was in the perfect
place deep below the river surface and just had to stay calm and ride
it out. Over 21 seconds later I re surfaced to hear the roar from the
crowd. Then it was Hitomi's turn again :)

Hitomi racks out the ends with hand paddles
(photo by Alex Edwards)

The semi finals flew by and we still
had the finals to go.

Happy to have nailed some epic rides
(photo by Dave Wortley)

Junior freestyle kayaker and young
superstar Jen McGauley opened up the finals with some incredible
smooth, technically perfect flat water work. Reminding me of how
incredible this sport is that if the hard work is put in no matter
how young or old or big or small you are you can excel and really do
well. And excel she did, young Jen was sitting in 3rd
place all the way until the final round.

Jen smoothly moves through a complex routine of tricks
(photo by Dave Worltey)

Watching and learning from the staging blocks
(photo by Lindsey Spicer)

Its amazing to watch and see the progression of the next generation
(photo by Dave Worltey)

But with a finals stacked
full of legends and pros in the sport she would have to wait another
few years to get her podium spot. Former World Champion Val Bertrand
and squirt boating legend Motoko raised the bar once more in their
final rides with Motoko making it onto the podium in 3rd
place.

We all watch on as young Jen pulls out some incredible
flat water performances

Then in true form Hitomi nailed ride
after ride of solid mystery's and complex routines to win her second
squirt boating silver medal to huge roars of support from the crowd
and I got some more epic rides nailing another 20 second plus mystery
(this time with a paddle) in my first ride followed by another
massive flat water routine to take the gold medal win before
finishing off with a no paddle hand only mystery move to close out
the event.

In the zone I drop for 20 seconds to start the run
(photo by Linsdey Spicer)

But that was not it yet. As I made my
way back up the eddy to celebrate and have an interview with Jez. I
found myself amid a moment that will change my life forever. As Jez
finished up my worlds interview he got down into the water up to his
knees and asked me if I would be his wife!

The moment I said yes
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)

Everyone seemed to be in on it
(photo by Dave Wortley)

The crowd went wild. What an incredible
end to a perfect day and what a way to start off the 2015 ICF World
Championships and the next chapter of our life.